The cards have finally fallen the way of Collingwood's Josh Fraser, with the former AFL No.1 draft pick to join the select 200-game club this weekend.

Having languished in the VFL since round 12 while the versatile Leigh Brown ably filled the role as Darren Jolly's ruck back-up, Fraser earned a recall against Hawthorn on Saturday.

But he will have to do something spectacular to hold his spot for the upcoming finals campaign, with Brown eligible to return for the qualifying final against the Western Bulldogs once he serves a one-game suspension for striking.

At least the 28-year-old Fraser will take some good form into the MCG clash against the Hawks, having booted five goals in the VFL last weekend.

The Magpies also recalled improved defender Ben Reid and the inexperienced John McCarthy.

Alan Didak will miss with a shoulder complaint while John Anthony was dropped for the fourth time in 2010.

The Hawks will be without premiership stars Luke Hodge (knee) and Grant Birchall (hamstring).

Having rested the cream of their side for last weekend's long trip to Launceston, Fremantle made 10 changes for Friday night's clash against Carlton.

With a home final up for grabs, the Dockers welcomed back the likes of ruckman Aaron Sandilands, captain Matthew Pavlich, David Mundy and Adam McPhee, who got the tagging job on Chris Judd the last time the two sides met.

"The guys know how we play and that's the No.1 thing," said Dockers coach Mark Harvey about the massive number of unforced changes to his team.

"Whether guys have missed a week or three weeks, it shouldn't matter."

The Blues dropped Andrew Walker, Sam Jacobs and Richard Hadley, with livewire forward Chris Yarran among the inclusions.

Having done his customary demolition job on Essendon last week, Brisbane captain Jonathan Brown will miss the Lions' final match of a disappointing 2010 against Sydney due to his ongoing groin complaint.

Human headline Ben Cousins will be given until training on Saturday to prove his fitness for what would be his final AFL game for Richmond against Port Adelaide on Sunday.

Cousins' remarkable career looked to have ended a week early when he hurt his hamstring last weekend against St Kilda.

Richmond will hand a debut to key defender Dylan Grimes, the younger brother of highly-rated Melbourne midfielder Jack Grimes.

Geelong have brought back three of their dual premiership heroes for Saturday's home game against West Coast - skipper Cameron Ling, ruckman Brad Ottens and running defender Andrew Mackie.

James Podsiadly and Josh Hunt are both suspended.

In contrast, the slumping Bulldogs will be without three of their biggest names for Saturday's clash with Essendon - skipper Brad Johnson (ankle), Brownlow medallist Adam Cooney (hamstring) and defender Dale Morris (back).

The most significant of Essendon's four "outs" is captain Jobe Watson, who has succumbed to a shoulder injury.

Third-placed St Kilda have been strengthened by the return of vice-captain Lenny Hayes, tagger Clint Jones, ruckman Michael Gardiner and fullback Zac Dawson for Saturday's trip to Adelaide to take on the Crows.

But goalsneak Adam Schneider will miss the AAMI Stadium encounter with a corked thigh.

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